Prologue: I Became the King
I opened my eyes to find myself in the middle of a forest. I was sitting on a stone throne, and kneeling before me were a woman and a skeleton skull draped in robes, heads bowed low.
"Greetings for the first time, our king."
"Our savior king has at last awakened."
─It took me a while to accept that this wasn't a dream.
Eclipse of Realms. That seemed to be the name of the game I'd transmigrated into. "Seemed to be," because I wasn't entirely sure. I'd never actually played it myself.
I hadn't played it, but I knew the rough story and setup from videos and reviews. The two characters in front of me felt vaguely familiar... sort of... like, dimly in my memory... maybe. Fuck if I knew for sure.
Still, figuring out this was inside the game came down to them knowing about it. They even told me the name themselves, which helped me grasp the situation amid the confusion.
"But this world is not a game—it's reality, my king."
That's what the skeleton said. They weren't made of data; they were real people with blood and flesh. Yeah, but you're a goddamn skeleton without any of that—sure about this?
Anyway, the skeleton was the one kindly explaining everything to my bewildered self after the sudden transmigration. The woman, on the other hand, hadn't said a word since her initial greeting, just staring with a sullen expression. It almost felt like a glare.
A skeleton being friendlier than a person? This whole thing was bizarre.
Pointed ears... so she's not human either.
As I alternated glances between the skeleton and the woman, their vague impressions sharpened in my mind. Right, probably—really probably, though I couldn't fully trust my memory—they were the starting characters who assist the player.
The skeleton skull was the advisor. And the woman was the hero... I think.
The advisor skeleton helped with gameplay as a guide, while the hero woman could be directly commanded to move on the map. Unlike regular soldiers, she could level up, with a high cap, and acquire new skills through leveling or items.
"Your memory is accurate, my king. Allow me to reintroduce myself. This skeletal advisor is named Mea."
"......."
"Come on, Lete, greet him properly!"
"...Lete."
"You too... My apologies, my king."
The woman who called herself Lete seemed dissatisfied somehow. But I had no time to fuss over her attitude—I had a ton to think about.
How the hell did I end up transmigrated here? What was the point of this game? What was I supposed to do? I knew nothing.
"Um, Mea?"
"Yes, my king? Ask anything. And no need for 'Miss'—just call me Mea."
"...Mea, I've never played this game."
I knew of it. I'd even bought and downloaded it thinking I'd play someday, but never got around to it. Recognizing Mea and Lete came from strategy guides and reviews I skimmed during commutes for fun.
I knew the broad story and structure, but the actual systems? Zero clue.
Lete tsked loudly enough for everyone to hear. Mea, the advisor, responded with what I swear was a smiling expression despite being a skull.
"It's fine, my king."
"─Where the king points is our path."
That did not reassure me...
...............
..........
......
Eclipse of Realms─or EoR for short. A fantasy SLG where you run a nation, conquer, and dominate.
Unlike traditional nation-builders where you just expand territory, grow strong, and reach the endgame, EoR had a final boss called the King of Ruin.
No "Easy" mode, but on "Normal" and above, this enemy of all nations was inevitable. No matter your starting nation, you had to defeat the King of Ruin and his forces to win.
You could conquer everyone to build power, ally via diplomacy for a coalition army, raise a few heroes for a "Hero Ending" sweep, or submit to the King of Ruin for a "Demon King Ending" continent-burn. Tons of scenarios and endings, with varying nation management and some New Game+ inheritance—highly praised for replayability.
I hadn't even done one playthrough, let alone New Game+.
Lots to do was a pro, but for a busy office drone like me, it was rice cake I couldn't eat. Just proxy satisfaction from morning commute videos, mealtime streams, bedtime guides, and reviews.
...Wait, which nation's heroes were Mea and Lete again?
I'd seen them in a review video, but maybe while dozing off—impression stuck, details gone.
"Our nation has no name yet. Not even a nation, really. If anything, it's the 'wandering recluse' start."
"......No-nation start... that's definitely..."
If my memory held, only on Hard and above.
No way it's Insane or Hell difficulty.
Those were the names for Hard+. I knew the labels but not details. Some famous YouTuber quit Hell calling it impossible, I recalled.
But it had to be beatable. Just to scare players.
"Please save this world, my king."
"...You mean beat the King of Ruin?"
"Do as you wish, my king. Your choice is this land's salvation."
It took a bit, but I got it: Pick your scenario.
As mentioned, Hero Ending by slaying the boss, or Demon King Ending by joining him.
"You are our Salvation King."
Mea bowed deeply again. Lots to process, but no pause button like in-game. No skipping to tomorrow while pondering.
Sun setting fast in the dense forest. Oh, and I was in just a tank top and panties, house clothes.
Sleeping exposed in the woods? Bugs galore—bugs, bugs, bugs.
Shelter first. Game, guides, salvation, ruin—later.
"Use your king's magic for now."
Mea chimed in. Each nation had "special magic" as a strategic resource for building the base.
I vaguely recalled: Resource Magic, stockpiled nationally. Universal resource to summon strategic weapons, resources, etc. Limited supply, so use wisely or you're screwed.
No save-scumming here? Game Over unknown. Caution max.
"─Though I did warn you, my king..."
"......Yeah. I heard you."
Mea and I stared up at the towering building before us. She looked exasperated.
A huge, fancy hotel. Not five-star, but solid three-to-four. Front garden, fountain even.
This scale guzzled Resource Magic. But hey.
Started with a tent. Roof over head, off the dirt—good enough.
But no toilet.
No toilet!
Non-flush? Modern me couldn't handle pit latrines. Plus, upgrades added bonuses.
So─hypnotized, upgraded a few times. Now this.
Clashed hard with the fantasy forest backdrop. Modern hotel in primeval woods.
"..........The king's path is ours."
Mea's sigh-like mutter sounded like self-hypnosis.
And Lete, wordlessly sauntering into the hotel to claim the biggest, flashiest room? No need to say it.
